Past & Present

Thursday, April 01, 2021

Last evening purely by accident and soon delighted, I watched three hours of video tracking America’s historical Women’s Movement.

It introduced me to the talent and achievements of one Carrie Chapmen Catt. During the late 18th and early 19th Centuries, she was a key mover in achieving the 19th Amendment. Following its radification, Catt founded the League of Women Voters. Her skills for organizing and leading were exceptional.

Another video reviewed the later Women’s Movement during my lifetime, a reminder of much I witnessed over the years, renewing both delight and worries. The world’s work, becoming ever more technical, opens paths for newcomers to the workforce, but leaves out those who don’t lead with their brains. Fortunately, President Biden’s infrastructure bill will open physical jobs. Many who feel left behind in job opportunities will be provided the satisfactions of earning wages and being productive.

A third video introduced me for the first time to an amazing singer/songwriter, Holly Near. She was as talented, distinctive, and influential as Janis Joplin, and I totally missed knowing about her. Fortunately, she was able to adapt to fame and the times without becoming self-destructive.

What a trip, those three hours of video! They’re so worth watching. Catch them if available for streaming on PBS or other cable services.

Shifting topics slightly, but still on streaming, don’t miss these examples of outstanding film art: “My Octopus Teacher”, “The Life Ahead”, and “Nomandland. One captures the beauty and intelligence of octopuses, another the still-wonderful presence of Sophia Loren, and in the third, the enormous talent of actor Francis McDormand.

Dear Friends: It’s awe inspiring: all that’s been done, what’s being done, and what the future may offer. Diana